[A4] Wipers

Thanks for all of the input, guys. I took a quick look this evening as the light was dimming. I think I am going to have to replace the wiper
blade (on the driver's side, at least). The problem I have is that the last 6 inches of the wiper don't contact the windshield in any position.
When I examined it in a little more detail, it looks like there might be a broken pin on the blade that appears to apply the pressure on the wiper
to keep the entire blade curved and contacting the windshield. Kind of hard to describe so I will take a picture tomorrow. At any rate, attached to
the blade is the airfoil that keeps the blade on the windshield at higher speeds. I haven't seen any aftermarket replacement blades with that, and
it doesn't apear that you could simply detach the airfoil and attach it to an aftermarket wiper blade.
I suspect I will just drive over to the dealer on Monday and pick up replacements.
The B5 models all appear in the wiper reference books at the local FLAPS, so you can purchase generic refills for them. The B6 models
aren't in the book.
Dan D
'04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
Central NJ USA
________________________________
From: Tom Love <theloves at localaccess.com>
To: Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com>; Dan DiBiase <d_dibiase at yahoo.com>
Cc: a4 at audifans.com; quattro at audifans.com
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:31:18 PM
Subject: Re: Wipers
I've been driving a B5 for five years and my son has driven his for about the same amount of time as well. My blades get replaced on a average of three times a year and I do my son's at the same time. Many types and names of wipers have gone through my hands (wallet?) and though I find some better than others, I have never had a difficult time finding replacement whether it be from a dealer or flaps. Usually just under $25 a pair for the likes of trico (good) and up to $50 for upper end Bosch all weather or the PIAA (real nice) but never a fitment problem. I do live in the PNW and the mixed elements here destroy the wipers plus I am damned particular about foul weather vision. One wiper comes to mind that I really stay away from-ANCO (or cheaper ones). Just my 2 cents worth.
----- Original Message -----
> On Sat, Jan 17, 2009 at 1:00 PM, Dan DiBiase <d_dibiase at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> Man, getting wipers for this car is nuts. Autozone has to special order
>> them - at $86 for just a pair of blades!. My usual places - Clairparts
>> and VAGparts - don't seem to exist any longer. Last time I had them
>> replaced, they were done at the dealer and covered under the 4-year
>> free maintenance plan.
>>>> Do I really need to special-order these suckers or can I just use Bosch
>> blades of the right length??
>>>> Dan D
>> '04 A4 1.8Tq MT-6
>> Central NJ USA